Multiple US news sources are reporting that legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong has died at age 82. As the spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar mission, he became the first human being to land on the moon and step on its surface — where, as he bounced down from the spacecraft's ladder, he famously said "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

A true Pioneer.
I remember where I was when he stepped out onto the Moon Surface.
I hope we get the chance to go back permanently.
Apache

As do I. I was 18 months and counting away from being born. I was born in Dec of 1970 so he landed 1.5 yrs before I made my entrance. He was a very brave man to go up in Apollo 11 and trust that things would work out ok. If something had gone wrong his obit would have been written in 1969 rather than 2012 since there would have been no way to get aid to them.

he famously said "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

I understand he was supposed to say "that's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." In the excitement of the landing he accidentally left the 'a' out of his sentence. Can't say I blame him though. He was the first man to stand upon the moon and anyone would be excited.

I understand he was supposed to say "that's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." In the excitement of the landing he accidentally left the 'a' out of his sentence. Can't say I blame him though. He was the first man to stand upon the moon and anyone would be excited.

Actually, he said it the way he intended but the transmission garbled what we heard. A few years back (2009, I think) they brought out the tapes and cleared out the static and you can clearly hear the "a" in the sentence.

I was nine years old and sitting in a 55 Chevy with my grandfather when we heard "tranquility base here, the eagle has landed.". The Chevy belonged to my uncle who had been killed in Viet Nam 9 months earlier. That night, we watched the one small step for a man. I will remember that day, and those moments, as long as I live.

Actually, he said it the way he intended but the transmission garbled what we heard. A few years back (2009, I think) they brought out the tapes and cleared out the static and you can clearly hear the "a" in the sentence.

He was a true hero as were those who took the journey with him; no doubt about it. It takes a lot of courage to sit on top of an explosion that's going to carry you somewhere no human had ever traveled. There were so very many things that could have gone wrong, as the Apollo 13 astronauts later discovered first hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepler42

Does not make sense on this forum....

You were right. As the General Discussions forum was the wrong place for it, this thread has since been moved to the Lounge by one of the moderators. In addition, I gave it a "Seriously Thoughtful" tag to distinguish it from the usual light banter here.

Off-topic: Is your name Kepler, or is your User Name a tribute to the mathematician/astronomer Johannes Kepler (and of course, Douglas Adams)?

Coincidentally I just watched the Discovery Series, The NASA Missions: When We Left Earth on Netflix. Amazing accomplishments especially considering the computer tech we had back in the late 60's early 70's.

Alas, I think Moon Base Alpha will remain a TV show (Space: 1999) for quite a while... I don't expect to see a moon colony in my life time.

Some say the Apollo astronauts were lucky to be at the right place at the right time. But it still required guts and courage to go on a journey where there was a chance they might never make it back. True pioneers.

I understand there were 24 men in all who walked on the moon. The youngest surviving is now aged 76, I believe. I hope the world doesn't go back to a period of existence where there are no men alive who have walked on the moon. I reckon it'll take China making efforts to put a man on the Moon or Mars to kick off the next big space race with the USA.